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® Additional Information on the Firm’s Medical Negligence Defense Team
® New Legislation Affecting Medical Negligence Lawsuits
®Additional Links
® Directions to Seattle Office
® Directions to Tacoma Office
Additional Information on the Firm’s Medical Negligence Defense Team
The medical negligence lawyers at Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick are well versed in medical negligence defense. Our attorneys in Seattle and Tacoma have built a strong reputation for providing value-based representation, securing unbiased expert witness testimony and obtaining favorable results in State, Federal and Appellate courts.
Medical negligence occurs and a medical negligence defense lawyer is required when a health care provider does not meet a standard of practice of acceptable care and treatment, resulting in injury or loss suffered by an individual beyond their initial condition. Included in this definition are situations such as failure to diagnose, incorrect diagnosis, failure to secure patient consent and administering inadequate treatment. Laws pertaining to medical negligence are often complicated, but the medical negligence lawyers at Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick are experienced in all facets of this area of the law and in defending health care providers and institutions.
We believe that the great majority of our American health care professionals provide a superior level of treatment to their patients – each day working tirelessly and fighting incessantly for the better health of every person that walks through their doors. However, in these litigious times, it is often health care providers that are first in the line of blame. Quality, available healthcare is a concern for everyone, but often the expectation of patients is unrealistic – and lawyers are there to pursue their complaints. This is why our attorneys at Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick are available to consult, represent and defend health care professionals accused of medical negligence.
The attorneys at Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick have experience defending and securing favorable results for a wide variety of health care providers, including Physicians, Physician’s Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Midwives, Dentists, Mental Health Professionals and institutions. Our medical negligence lawyers have obtained numerous defense verdicts and summary dismissals in a variety of cases. Here are a few examples of defense verdicts in favor of the following health care providers:
- Thurston County: Brain damage claim; alleged failure to inform
- King County: Obstetrician; nurses; ARNP and Gerontologist; Cardiologist; Psychiatrist
- Pierce County: Emergency Room Physician; Social Worker; Hospital
- Kitsap County: Hospital; ER Physician
For more information, please contact us at:
Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick, LLP
Attn: D. Jeffrey Burnham
925 4th Ave., Suite 2300
Seattle, WA 98104-1158
(206) 223-4770
fax: (206) 386-7344
Email: djburnham@jgkmw.com
Johnson, Graffe, Keay Moniz & Wick, LLP
Attn: A. Clarke Johnson
2115 N. 30th St., Suite 101
Tacoma, WA 98403 -1767
(253) 572-5323
fax: (253) 572-5413
Email: clarkej@jgkmw.com
New Legislation Affecting Medical Negligence Lawsuits
As of June 7, 2006, new legislation now requires plaintiffs’ counsel to include a certification, with their suit, that the suit is based on proper evidence and is legitimate. The certification must come from a competent medical expert, before filing: “The certificate of merit must be executed by a health care provider who meets the qualifications of an expert in the action.” (RCW 7.70.150)
In addition, the new legislation has amended the evidentiary “collateral source rule”. (RCW 7.70.080) Thus, the defense in medical negligence cases may now introduce evidence that the plaintiff has already been compensated for his/her injuries and damages from any source including insurance but excluding his/her assets. Removed from this new, amended version of the existing collateral source rule was the restriction against presenting evidence of collateral source payments that come from insurance purchased by the plaintiff. The plaintiff will be able to present evidence of an obligation to repay such amounts (e.g.-liens), and evidence of the amounts to secure the rights to the compensation (e.g., premiums). However, the defense will be able to introduce evidence of the amount actually paid by the plaintiff, or that actually needs to be reimbursed by the plaintiff, as opposed to the higher billed amounts often presented by plaintiffs.
Additional Links:
Medline: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
SuperLawyers: http://www.superlawyers.com/washington/
Martindale Lawyer Ratings: http://www.martindale.com/
Washington State Department of Health: http://www.doh.wa.gov/
New England Journal of Medicine: http://content.nejm.org/
Directions and Map
To Seattle Office of Johnson, Graffe -- IDX Tower, 925 4th Avenue
From I-5 South, take Madison Street exit in Seattle; turn left onto Madison Street; down three blocks to 4th and Madison; garage entrance s between 4th and 3rd Avenues, on Madison or around the corner on Marion Street.
From I-5 North, take James Street exit; turn right on James Street; turn right on 3rd Avenue; turn right on Marion Street, and immediately left into the garage.
To Tacoma Office of Johnson, Graffe – Old Town, 2115 North 30th Street
Following I-5 North or South, take the (Tacoma) City Center exit (Exit 133) off I-5.
Upon exiting I-5, follow the signs to City Center and I-705. Once you are on the short I-705 freeway, stay in the far right lane and take the Schuster Parkway exit off I-705.
Upon taking the Schuster Parkway exit, continue to follow the signs for Schuster Parkway. At the fork with Stadium Way, stay to the left following Schuster Parkway along the waterfront. Continue on Schuster Parkway for a mile or two until you come to the fork splitting Schuster to North 30th or Ruston Way. Follow the fork to the right leading to North 30th.
Once you have gone underneath the Ruston Way overpass, you will crest a small hill. Ahead is the intersection of North 30th with McCarver Street. Our office is located in the McCarver Square professional building on the right side about a half block down North 30th before the intersection. We are in the office building next door to the Spar Tavern.
You may park on either side of the street or proceed to the parking lots designated for McCarver Square patrons. To get to these lots, proceed a half block to the stoplight and turn right. You will see the lots on the left side of the street about halfway down the hill and before the railroad tracks.
